The Dodds & Clough Head

[poppiesrara]

A long, bitterly cold circuit of the snow-dusted hills surrounding Deepdale.

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The lower slopes of the hills south of Dockray are extremely damp and rough going; if this is the favoured route over the shorter approach from Dowthwaitehead, then the latter is definitely one to avoid! It settles into a thin muddy path before too long though, skirting the undulating ridge-top and with wonderful views of Ullswater below and the craggy peaks south catching the eye throughout.

Dodds from the High Row road

Gowbarrow Fell over Dockray

Ullswater & Hallin Fell

Heading to Swinside Knott, Sheffield Pike behind

Heron Pike, with St Sunday Crag in the clouds

Place Fell and the south end of Ullswater

Leaving the wall and heading steeply enough up to Hart Side via Birkett Fell, even the relatively low slopes were surprisingly white – the rest of Lakeland bar the very highest peaks seemed to have missed this, but the Eastern Fells had a lovely winter cloak on. Perhaps especially in these conditions, the deep steep-faced gorge of Glencoyne makes for a dramatic sight from this side.

Sheffield Pike

Green Side over Glencoyne

Place Fell & Glenridding Dodd

North from Birkett Fell

Heading to Green Side from Hart Side

In contrast, the upper slopes of Green Side and the Dodds are easy going, gentle gradients and a series of relatively slight rises and falls. Not much drama or challenge, unless you count skipping around the deeper and juicier bits (it’s a route that, especially around Watson’s Dodd, makes you very grateful for half-frozen ground), but a situation among the more popular fells that ensures plenty to look at as the miles skip by. Icy, limb-numbing blasts and a quick sting of gusting snow on top of Great Dodd were a stern reminder though that – despite the easy round profiles – this is pretty high territory.

Stybarrow Dodd

Catstyecam & Helvellyn from Green Side

Hart Side, Great Mell Fell in distance

Raise from Stybarrow Dodd

Back to Stybarrow Dodd

Thirlmere from Watson's Dodd

Watson's Dodd & a threatening sky

After a steeper, and thankfully sheltered, descent from the tops, it’s worth a two-minute detour to the one rocky peak of the day, the tiny rise of Calfhow Pike. It’s rather a shame that this couldn’t be transplanted to reward the singularly dull slog up the damp slope of Clough Head – but you still get a lovely uninterrupted vista of the Northern Fells from the latter top. A scuttle down the pathless eastern slopes and then an easy few miles along the bridleway lead you back from there.

Back to Great Dodd

High Rigg & North-Western Fells from Calfhow Pike

Skiddaw from Clough Head

Blencathra

Back to Clough Head from the Old Coach Road

Not the most exhilarating set of hills in themselves perhaps, but on the right day – and this was it – the surroundings more than make up for that.

[Simo]

Enjoyable walk that one Poppiesrara. I always think the view to the Conistons swinging round through Crinkle Crags to Great Gable and Pillar an awesome Lakeland peaked sight. Probably better off doing that walk in March or April when we seem to have our drier months. The view down Ullswater always looks better in late afternoon when the sun is more in the West giving a better light definition.

[SusieThePensioner]

A great walk and enjoyed your report. Loved the photos; some fantastic views in all directions

[garyhortop]

That looked like a really nice wander Poppie.....some really good pictures there as well!

[ChrisW]

Some beautiful scenery there P and you certainly picked the right day to explore it. That dusting of snow really adds to the wonder of the scenes and is a good reminder of the altitude, best of all there doesn't seem to be too many other people about